Traveling with your computer, smartphone, or digital camera can be stressful. On the one hand, they’re great to have for checking out your surroundings, finding accommodations and restaurants, and capturing memories, but on the other hand, what if something breaks? Or gets stolen? It’s a frightening and expensive proposition.

If you do decide to pack your gadgets for your next trip – and really, who leaves home without at least a smartphone these days – taking a few special precautions can help you feel more secure. So pack carefully, check your warranties, and try to enjoy. Isn’t that what vacation is all about?

Consider Your Destination

If you’re traveling to a major city within your home country, traveling with your phone or even your computer isn’t a huge concern. After all, even if something breaks, you’re unlikely to be put in a position where you absolutely can’t get it repaired.

This changes, though, if you’re headed into the woods or out on a boat, or if you’re leaving the country, so evaluate what you need carefully. If you’re going to be boating or camping, for example, an iridium satellite phone may be a smarter choice than your smartphone. With the satellite phone you’ll be able to call for help if you encounter trouble, no matter where you are.

Packing Precautions

Wherever you’re going, you’ll want to be carefully about how you pack your devices, since they may be bumped around while in transit or unexpectedly exposed to the elements. For a computer, this may mean investing in not just a soft cover, but an actual laptop bag that you can pack inside your suitcase for extra protection. As for your phone, choose something that’s easy to use, but still protective – there are lots of choices in waterproof phone cases.

Do Some Homework

If you have a temperamental device, or just to feel better prepared, do a little homework to find out where you might be able to get your tech repaired if need be, and travel with any documents you’ll need to prove you have a warranty or other protection. You  may get lucky and find a program like Phone Doctors that will make house calls to fix your broken phone. If doctors can get field service to repair a broken ultrasound, surely someone will do the same for your digital camera, right?

Check Your Chargers

If you’re traveling internationally, it’s important to remember that different countries use different types of outlets. That means your chargers may not work properly or may even damage your device when plugged into an outlet abroad. Look into the standards where you’re traveling and find out what kind of plug shape is used, as well as the standard voltage. You’ll be able to find adapters for most devices.

If all else fails and you’re worried about traveling with your devices, consider taking out some form of travel insurance to protect them while you’re away. Knowing you’ll be able to replace anything that breaks or is damaged may not be your first choice, but it’s a good backup plan to have in place.